15:30 Ayr

Friday 17 April 2026

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4317:15

Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 36.02s

Twinjets²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148| D

6/1

Returned better than ever this season, winning at Fontwell and Newbury in the autumn, and got back on track granted an easier time of things up front when second at Newbury on latest start. Nudged up 1 lb.

Form: P-11UP2

Califet En Vol³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| BF| D

6/1

Listed novice hurdle winner last season and it all clicked at the fourth time of asking over fences when seeing off 8 rivals at Kempton in February. Let down by his jumping in a similar event there last time, though.

Form: 6-23514

Myretown³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 140| D

12/1

Most progressive form in handicap chases in 2024/25, bounding clear to take the Ultima Handicap on final outing. Undone by a bad mistake in the Peter Marsh at Haydock in January but put up a tepid effort in latest renewal of aforementioned race on most recent outing. Something to prove.

Form: 11-F4P0

Donnacha⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: N J Hawke| OR: 137| D

4/1

Has progressed notably well over fences, proving better than ever when opening his account for the season in 11-runner premier handicap at Cheltenham (20.6f, soft) in January, holding on gamely. Has to be taken seriously from 5 lb higher mark in follow-up bid.

Form: 11-3221

Il Ridoto^p,t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136| D

22/1

Landed last season's Paddy Power Gold Cup. Record mixed subsequently but a drop back in trip promises to suit after failing to stay in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival on latest start.

Form: 7-28720

Jipcot^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132| D

15/2

Opened chase account when making all at Leicester in January and acquitted himself well when fourth in the Swinley at Ascot the following month, jumping notably fluently. Possibly found the race coming too soon in the Plate at Cheltenham and remains capable of better.

Form: 0P-3140

Hoe Joly Smoke^p,t⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| DWS

9/4

Dual winner last season who found more off the bridle than has been the case when third in Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November. However, reverted to type in first-time cheekpieces at Kempton on latest start and has since undergone another breathing operation.

Form: 1P-3356

Dubai Days^h,t¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-6| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 126| CD

16/1

3-time C&D winner, latest in February. Not seen to best effect back in a higher grade when sixth of 17 in veterans handicap chase (22/1) at Haydock (2½m, good) on latest start, having been left poorly placed.

Form: U2-4816

Hombre De Guerra^t⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: P W Wadge| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 124| C

14/1

Made a seamless transition to fences last season, bagging back-to-back 2m course handicaps. Little impact in 3 starts this campaign, albeit not ideally placed on first start for this yard at Kelso latest. Up in trip.

Form: 211-486

Forecasts

Hoe Joly Smoke (9/4), Donnacha (4/1), Twinjets (6/1), Califet En Vol (6/1), Jipcot (15/2), Myretown (12/1), Hombre De Guerra (14/1), Dubai Days (16/1), Il Ridoto (22/1)

DONNACHA is a thoroughly likeable sort who is taken to defy a 5 lb rise in the weights for his Cheltenham triumph in January. Jipcot possibly found the race coming too soon in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival and remains capable of better, with Il Ridoto another to consider from a falling mark back over a more suitable trip.